Roadway machine



M. D. BOWEN ROADWAY MACHINE Jam. M, 3936.,

Filed March 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l jm M 3936 M. D. BQWEN @Zgg ROADWAY MACHI NE Filed March 2, 193:5 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented `Ian. 14, QG

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to that class of railway equipment known as roadway machines, and includes gasoline engine-driven generators;v dolly cars, hand or engine operated; maintenance of way grinding machines; rail drills; spike drivers; spike pullers; bolt tighteners; rail and joint oiling machines; tamping machines, air, electric or mechanical; motor cars; track gauge machines; track level; surface machines; etc.

The roadway machines in use at the present time required that the machine be turned end for end when being transferred from one rail to ane other on the same track, and if the work is to progress in the same general direction, it is necessary for the machine to be run backwardly a part of the time. This is an inconvenience and causes considerable loss of time.

One of the principal objects of the present invention, therefore, is to enable these machines to operate on either rail of a track in a forward direction without necessitating backward running of the machine.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a derailing frame that enables the machine to be toppled off the track on either side of the weight supporting rail without allowing the machine elements to come in contact with the ground.

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure p-roceeds and the description is re-ad in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of a cross grinding machine embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a. side, elevational view of the machine, the guide arm, however, being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the derailing and base frames;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View oaf the guide arm with a part broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view showing the means for supporting the guide arm on the base frame.

In machines of this type, it is desirable to have the center of gravity of the machine substantially in vertical alinernent with one of the track rails in order to facilitate removal of the machine from the track when a train is approaching. The

concentration of the mass of the machine over one of the. rails is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of disclosure, a particular type of roadway machine, known as a cross grinder, has been illustrated in the drawings and will hereafter be described. It will be distinctly understood, however, that the invention is applicable to all roadway machines of which the cross grinder is but an example.

Referring rst to Fig. 3, the reference character I0 designates generally a base frame upon which the cross grinding apparatus is mounted. The frame comprises side sills II and I2, connected together by cross sills I3 and Hl, all of which are securely welded together. The sills are here shown as made from square tubing, but 5 they may be channel bars, angleI bars, or any other suitable kind of framework material.

A derailing frame I5 is mounted on the base frame and comprises substantially circular spaced end members I6 and II connected to- 10 gether by spacing members I8, I9 and 2Q. The spacers IB and 2B extend in bo-th directions beyond the end members I6 and Il and form handles 2l by which the entire machine may be lifted. The ends of the circular members IS and I'I are 15 flattened as indicated at 22 and 23 and welded to the bottoms of the side sills II and I2, respectively. An angle cross bar 24 strengthens the structure.

A pair of flanged wheels 25 and 26 are journaled 20 in tandem between the ends of the cross sills II and I2 in journal boxes 21 and are adapted to travel on the rail 28 of the track. Since the rail 28 carries almost the entire load o f the machine, it will be referred to as the weight- 25 supporting rail of the track.

Suitable apparatus is mounted on the base frame for imparting rotation to the flexible shaft 29 of the cross grinder wheel E. The apparatus includes a motor 3l which transmits power 30 through a belt drive 32 to the flexible shaft 29. A belt tightener 33 is provided to adjust the tension of the belt drive 32 when occasion requires.

The apparatus mounted on the base frame Il! 35 is arranged so that its center of gravity is substantially in vertical alinement with the weightcarrying rail 28. This being so, it is necessary to provide suitable means for steadying the machine on the track. 40

To this end a guide arm 3e is provided, which is adapted to be secured on either side of the' base frame Ill. The guide arm is made of square tubing and is provided with a rounded shank 35 at its end for rotatably supporting a roller 36. 45 Preferably, this roller is rubber-coated, as indicated at 31. A nut 38 screwed on to the threaded end 39 of the shank holds the roller in place against a shoulder 4U. The roller is adapted to ride upon the rail Il of the track and is of such 50 size and is so positioned that when resting on the rail, the machine is tilted slightly toward the center of the track. This is shown clearly in Fig. l where the roller 35 is positioned slightly above the top of the track, thereby indicating 55 that when the roller rests on the track, the machine is slightly tilted to obtain stable equilibrium.

In some cases, it may be desirable to add a counterweight, as shown in dotted lines at 42, 60

Cil

to the guide arm to insure proper stability of the machine.

The inner end of the guide arm is adapted to telescopically engage a pair of socket members 43 and 44 which are` Welded to the bottoms of the side sills ll and l2, respectively. The sockets in the present case comprise pieces of square tubing of proper size, but it will be understood that any suitable means for supporting the inner end of the guide arm is contemplated by the term sockets A shoulder 45 is formed on the guide arm and iixes the position of the guide arm in the sockets 43 and 44. It will be clearly seen from the drawings that the guide arm may be inserted in the sockets 43 and 44 from either side of the machine so that the machine may be used on both rails of a track in a forward direction without running the machine backwardly.

A lock pin 46 is conveniently attached to a chain 41 for locking the guide arm in the sockets 43 and 44. When the guide arm is on the right side of the machine (as shown in Figs. 1 and 5) the lock pin is inserted through the alined apertures 48 in the socket 43, and the alined apertures 49 in the guide arm 34. When the machine is transferred from the rail 28 to the rail 4i, the guide arm 34 is removed by taking out the pin 4S and withdrawing the arm from the sockets. It is then transferred to the other side of the machine and inserted into the sockets 43 and 44 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The pin 46 is then placed through the alined apertures 48 and 50 in the socket 43 and guide arm 34, respectively.

It will be seen that the entire machine may be quickly toppled from the track by merely lifting up on the guide arm 34 and rolling the machine clear of the track. The derailing frame l5 protects the machine elements and prevents their contact with the ground. The machine may even be completely inverted without causing damage.

When operating a machine on a multiple track right of way, it may become necesary to topple the machine in the direction of one of the oompanion tracks. Since the guide arm 34 is detachable it may be quickly removed from the machine and may be thrown clear of the companion track. Chain 41 facilitates the removal of pin 4S so that the time required for the removing of the guide arm is only a matter of seconds.

The derailing frame and reversible guide arm constitute a unit which is readily attachable to all forms of roadway machines, such as mentioned at the beginning of the specification.

What I claim, therefore, is:

1. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track, the combination of a base frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinement with said rail, a guide arm projecting from the frame in the direction of the other rail and adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, said arm being capable of being atached to and quickly removed from either side of the base frame.

2. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track. the combination of a base frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinement with said rail, a guide arm projecting from the frame in the direction of the other rail and adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, said arm being capable of being attached to and quickly removed from either side of the base frame, and a derailing frame permitting the machine to be rolled from either rail without allowing the. apparatus mounted on the base frame to come in contact with the ground.

3. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track, the combination of a base frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinement with said rail, a guide arm projecting from the frame in the direction of the other rail and adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, said arm being capable of being attached to and quickly removed from either side of the base frame, and a counterweight carried on the arm.

4. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track, the combination of a base frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinemen't with said rail, a guide arm projecting trom the frame in the direction of the other rail and adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, and guide arm sockets on the base :frame for supporting the arm, said arm being capable of being attached to and quickly removed from the sockets from either side oi the machine.

5. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track, the combination of a base. frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinement with said rail, a guide arm projecting from the frame in the direction of the other rail and adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, guide arm sockets on the base frame for supporting the arm, said arm being capable of being attached to and quickly removed from the sockets from either side of the machine, and means for locking the guide arm in place.

6. In a roadway machine adapted to travel along a railroad track, the combination of a base frame, front and rear wheels arranged in tandem supporting the frame over one of the track rails, apparatus mounted on the frame with its center of gravity substantially in vertical alinement with said rail, a guide arm and means carried by the frame for receiving an end portion of the guide arm so that said arm projects from the frame in the. direction ci t. e other rail and is adapted to ride upon said other rail to steady the machine on the track, said arm being arranged so that the center of gravity of the machine, exclusive of the arm, is moved slightly toward the center of the track when the arm is allowed to rest on said other rail, said means for receiving an end portion of the guide arm being arranged so that the arm may be extended from either side of the frame, whereby the tandem wheels may be mounted on either rail of the track with the machine facing a given direction.

M. D. BOWEN. 

